Lewes man, 72, charged with inappropriately touching girl

By Melissa Steele | Jun 04, 2013

Source: Delaware State PoliceHarry T. Brooke

A 72-year-old Lewes man was charged with offensive touching after police say he groped a young girl.

The 12-year-old girl was at her grandmother's home at 9:15 a.m. May 30 in the unit block of Whitehaven Way where the girl, her mother and grandmother were fixing a fishing pole, said Cpl. Gary Fournier of the Delaware State Police.

Harry T. Brooke, also of Whitehaven Way, told the girl he could fix her fishing pole at his home; the girl went with him to his garage where he fixed the fishing pole, Fournier said.

However, Fournier said, after Brooke fixed the pole he grabbed the top of the girl's shirt and asked to see her breasts. The girl pulled away and Brooke repeated his question, Fournier said.

The girl returned to her grandmother's home where her family reported the incident to 911.

Police charged Brooke with two counts of sexual solicitation of a child under 18 and offensive touching. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $21,000 secured bond.

Police ask anyone with similar incidents to call 856-5850 ext. 208, 1-800-TIP-3333, go to www.tipsubmit.com or text 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword DSP.